OSR and home remedies

A good remedy for a couple weeks' illness is light, fantasy fiction, for instance:

  • Seth Skorkowsky's story, The Vault of Sowdek
  • John Milius' and Oliver Stone's film, Conan the Barbarian
  • Elaine Cunningham's novel, Winter Witch

All create irreversible moments - not too dramatically rendered - when something big's about to happen.

***

For sure, trouble's ahead when Skorkowsky's Ahren the Black Raven slips inside an enemy fortress, locates an ancient safe, and picks the lock.

The loud click echoed through the room. Releasing his breath, Ahren tugged the door smoothly opened. Thin shelves lined the bottom half, each stacked with parchments...Ahren smiled, and reached inside. Then, the door mechanism clicked again, and bells began clanging somewhere above.

'Damn it!'

***

Conan the Barbarian is darker than I remember, literally, with lots of low light scenes. Conan is indeed a mighty warrior, who's lost too much. Still, adventure called and there was no turning back when the brigand Valeria chided, "Do you want to live forever?" 

***

 

 [cover art by Esper Ejsing]

The easy pace of Cunningham's writing enlivens the youthful adventures in Winter Witch. Near the end, Ellasif, a barbarian shield maiden, confronts the winter witch. You can see it on the book's cover - the moment Ellasif resists the witch's icy spell.

Thanks for reading.


                                            




 

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